Aston Martin DB11 name confirmed, 2016 unveiling locked in

Aston Martin has confirmed its production supercar series will skip the DB10 badge given over to superspy James Bond, leapfrogging the number all-together.

Instead, fans can look forward to Aston’s next hero wearing a DB11 badge, revealed at today’s Frankfurt motor show as a stylised badge against a simple black background.

“Not only is [DB11] a sign of our intention to continue the long line of iconic sports cars that bear the ‘DB’ moniker – the very bloodline of our brand – but it also shows the world our ambitious plan in action,” Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer said today.

“The coming years will see Aston Martin transform not only its entire range of models but also its scale and global presence, and the new DB11 will be central to that success.”

Still no official sight of the car itself, although CarAdvice’s own spy photos, published in recent months, have given the world a few hints as to what we can expect when the DB11 is unveiled sometime in 2016.

Those photos have also revealed more about Aston Martin’s technical partnership with Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler, which, although built largely around supply of engines and electrics, will also see interior features borrowed from some Mercedes models.

Shots published in June reveal a clear view of the S-Class’s digital instrument cluster, along with its rotary infotainment control dial and amphitheatre-shaped button arrangement.

Fans can expect a uniquely Aston look to the rest of the cabin, though, and exterior styling will likely take its cues from the almost fictitious DB10 and the company’s recent Vision Gran Turismo concept.

The DB11 will also be the first Aston driven by a Mercedes-AMG V8, likely to be a version of the twin-turbo 4.0-litre unit that features in the Mercedes-AMG C63 and GT.